UCLA Chancellor Under Fire: Protests Over Palestine and Israel Escalate, Police Response Criticized

Los Angeles, California United States of America
New York Times editorial board criticized university administrators for handling of anti-Israel protests, leading to feelings of harassment among Jewish students and danger to protesters.
On April 30, multiple calls to 911 for help during altercations between masked agitators and pro-Palestinian protesters went unanswered for hours.
Two significant incidents at UCLA: pro-Palestinian protesters attacked by counterprotesters without police intervention, peaceful encampment dismantled through police takedown resulting in over 200 arrests.
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block facing calls for resignation and motions of no confidence and censure due to handling of Palestine-Israel protests.
Violence escalated at colleges and universities across the country, including UT Austin, Emory, Columbia, and City College of New York. Demonstrations had overwhelmingly been met with violence against demonstrators rather than by them.
UCLA Chancellor Under Fire: Protests Over Palestine and Israel Escalate, Police Response Criticized

In the past few weeks, tensions have escalated at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) over protests related to Palestine and Israel. Two significant incidents have raised concerns about safety and police response on campus. In one incident on April 30, pro-Palestinian protesters were attacked by counterprotesters for several hours without intervention from security officers or the police. In another incident, a peaceful encampment set up by students to express solidarity with Palestinians was dismantled through a sweeping police takedown that resulted in over 200 arrests. These events have led to faculty criticism and calls for action against UCLA Chancellor Gene Block.

On April 30, Sean Tabibian made the first of eleven calls to 911 reporting an urgent need for police at UCLA due to violent altercations between masked agitators and pro-Palestinian protesters. Despite multiple calls from Tabibian and other witnesses, law enforcement agencies did not respond until three hours and thirty-four minutes after the initial call. At least sixteen people were injured during the altercation, with the majority being pro-Palestinian protesters.

The New York Times editorial board criticized American university administrators for their handling of anti-Israel protests, stating that they have failed to enforce student codes of conduct and other guidelines meant to relieve tension between free speech and academic freedom. This lack of enforcement has led to some Jewish students feeling systematically harassed, while protesters themselves have been directly endangered due to the disarray and violence.

On May 2, volunteer attorneys waited for protesters arrested at UCLA's Palestine solidarity encampment to be released from custody. President Biden stated that 'violent protest is not protected; peaceful protest is.' However, demonstrations had escalated at colleges and universities across the country, including UT Austin, Emory, Columbia, and City College of New York. Violence had overwhelmingly been committed against demonstrators rather than by them.

On April 30 at UCLA, pro-Israel counterprotesters attacked the encampment with fireworks, planks, bear mace, and pepper spray. More than two hundred people were detained during a police raid on the encampment following the attack.

Counterprotesters fought with pro-Palestinian demonstrators at UCLA for several hours without police intervention. None of the counterprotesters were arrested during this time. Witnesses called emergency and non-emergency lines for help, but calls were disconnected or went unanswered. Governor Gavin Newsom's office contacted UCLA's chancellor office to ensure law enforcement response, and California Highway Patrol officers were ordered to the campus before L.A.P.D riot police arrived.

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block is facing faculty calls for his resignation and motions of no confidence and censure due to his handling of these events. Representatives of the 3,800-member UCLA Academic Senate are preparing to vote on separate motions for censure and no-confidence, both stating that Block 'failed to ensure the safety of our students and grievously mishandled the events of last week.'


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • Was there any communication between UCLA administration and law enforcement agencies prior to their arrival on May 2?
  • Were all witnesses to the altercations on April 30 at UCLA contacted by emergency services?
  • What was the exact number of injuries sustained during the altercation on April 30?

Sources

80%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

A Chaotic Night at U.C.L.A. Raises Questions About Police Response

The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Sunday, 12 May 2024 09:03
  • Unique Points
    • Counterprotesters attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment at U.C.L.A.
    • Security officers did not intervene during the attack
    • None of the counterprotesters were arrested
    • Witnesses called emergency and non-emergency lines for help, but calls were disconnected or went unanswered
    • Governor Gavin Newsom’s office contacted U.C.L.A.’s chancellor office to ensure law enforcement response
    • California Highway Patrol officers were ordered to the campus and arrived before L.A.P.D riot police
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (50%)
    The article reports on a violent incident at U.C.L.A., where counterprotesters attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment without police intervention for several hours, and no arrests were made afterwards. The authors describe the lack of police response as 'a policing failure' and question why security officers did not intervene during the attack, implying that they should have done so. This is an example of selective reporting, as the authors only report details that support their position and omit any information that might contradict it. They also use emotional manipulation by describing the violence as 'one of the worst outbreaks of violence in the college protests' and 'a chaotic night of violence', which creates a sensationalized narrative.
    • But as the night wore on and there was still no intervention,
    • The extent of the policing failure has become clearer in recent days, as witnesses have come forward to describe a chaotic night of violence on April 30,
    • Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe Subscribe. Already a subscriber? Log in.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several instances of appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. The authors repeatedly state that 'university officials still have not explained why security officers stood by for hours' and 'the extent of the policing failure has become clearer in recent days.' These statements are appeals to authority as they rely on the assumption that university officials are responsible for ensuring police intervention and that their failure to do so is a significant issue. Additionally, phrases such as 'one of the worst outbreaks of violence' and 'worst night of violence in college protests' use inflammatory language to elicit an emotional response from readers. No fallacies found directly from the author, but the tone and language used throughout the article may be intended to sway public opinion.
    • ]university officials still have not explained why security officers stood by for hours[
    • one of the worst outbreaks of violence in college protests
  • Bias (80%)
    The article describes a violent incident at U.C.L.A., where counterprotesters attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment without any police intervention for several hours. The authors mention that none of the attackers were arrested and that witnesses called emergency services repeatedly, but received little help or had their calls disconnected. This lack of police response raises questions about bias towards the pro-Palestinian demonstrators, as it appears that the authorities did not prioritize their safety despite repeated requests for assistance. The authors also mention that state officers were eventually called in to quell the clashes, but it took an hour to do so. This delay in intervention further highlights potential bias on the part of local law enforcement.
    • It took another hour to quell the clashes.
      • Nearly two weeks after a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles, was attacked by counterprotesters, university officials still have not explained why security officers stood by for hours while the attack was underway, nor have they arrested any of those who swarmed in wielding metal rods, water bottles and firecrackers.
        • One man was filmed by a local television station on the phone with emergency dispatchers, alerting them that people were getting hurt. “Security has abandoned this encampment,” he could be heard saying before lowering his phone and looking at it. “They just hung up on me again,” he said incredulously.
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        68%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        UCLA Chancellor Gene Block faces faculty criticism, no-confidence vote

        The Los Angeles Times Teresa Watanabe, Saturday, 11 May 2024 15:53
        • Unique Points
          • UCLA Chancellor Gene Block is facing faculty calls for his resignation and motions of no confidence and censure as criticism mounts against his leadership in the wake of a violent mob attack on pro-Palestinian protesters and a sweeping police takedown of their encampment that resulted in more than 200 arrests last week.
          • Representatives of the 3,800-member UCLA Academic Senate, made up of tenured and tenure-track faculty, are preparing to vote on separate motions for censure and no-confidence, both stating that Block “failed to ensure the safety of our students and grievously mishandled the events of last week.”
          • Three weeks of turmoil at UCLA started April 25, when students set up an encampment in the campus’s grassy quad to express solidarity with Palestinians, condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza and demand that UCLA divest from firms that make and deliver weapons and services to Israel.
          • UCLA declined to comment on the upcoming faculty vote.
          • Since then, a number of people have been blamed for the debacle, including UCLA Chancellor Gene Block.
        • Accuracy
          • Representatives of the 3800-member UCLA Academic Senate are preparing to vote on separate motions for censure and no-confidence, both stating that Block “failed to ensure the safety of our students and grievously mishandled the events of last week.”
          • UCLA Police Chief John Thomas advised campus leadership against allowing the encampment, as it violated rules against overnight camping.
          • Inna Faliks, a professor of piano, said she and some other Jewish campus members felt targeted by protest chants, graffiti of expletives against Jews and blocked access to public walkways and buildings.
          • UCLA declared the encampment unlawful on April 30. Later that night, a violent mob attacked the encampment and students were left to fend for themselves against beatings, pepper spray and fireworks for three hours. Law enforcement in riot gear moved in during the early morning of May 1, but it took hours to quell the violence.
          • More than 900 faculty and staff members throughout the University of California system issued a list of demands, including a call for Block’s resignation; amnesty for students, staff and faculty who participated in the encampment and peaceful protests; university disclosure of all investments and divestment from military weapon production companies.
          • Classes were moved online for the rest of the week as a security precaution after UCLA deployed a larger law enforcement presence earlier this week and arrested 44 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in a parking structure before a planned demonstration. Police said they carried equipment that could be “used to unlawfully enter and barricade a building.” Some students decried the arrests as harassment and intimidation.
        • Deception (30%)
          The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position of faculty criticism against UCLA Chancellor Gene Block. The article fails to mention any counterarguments or positive aspects of Block's leadership during his 17-year tenure at UCLA. Additionally, there is emotional manipulation through the use of phrases like 'grave moment for Block' and 'marking a grave moment for Block.'
          • Following the violent and aggressive police sweep of the Palestine Solidarity Encampment on May 2, 2024, resulting in more than 200 students, faculty, and staff arrested while peacefully protesting.
          • Faculty who signed the letter represented various departments including those of mathematics, American Indian Studies, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, Asian American Studies, history, Chicana/o and Central American Studies, African American Studies,
          • The leader of the nation’s top public research university is completing the final months of his 17-year tenure, after steering the Westwood campus through a financial crisis and global pandemic to reach new heights by expanding enrollment, diversity, philanthropy and research funding.
        • Fallacies (75%)
          The article contains several examples of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. The author states that UCLA Chancellor Gene Block is facing faculty calls for his resignation and motions of no confidence and censure as criticism mounts against his leadership in the wake of a violent mob attack on pro-Palestinian protesters and a sweeping police takedown of their encampment that resulted in more than 200 arrests last week. The author also mentions that other university leaders have been criticized for their handling of campus protests. Inflammatory rhetoric is evident when the author describes the events as a “debacle” and blames various parties for it. Appeals to authority are present when the author cites UC system guidelines, UC President Michael Drake’s statements, and campus leadership decisions. However, the article does not contain any formal fallacies or dichotomous depictions.
          • The violent mob attack on pro-Palestinian protesters... resulted in more than 200 arrests last week.
          • Other university leaders also have been criticized for their handling of campus protests... USC’s Academic Senate voted to censure the university’s president, Carol Folt, and provost, Andrew Guzman...
          • UCLA declared the encampment unlawful on April 30. Later that night, a violent mob attacked the encampment and students were left to fend for themselves against beatings, pepper spray and fireworks for three hours.
          • Before the Academic Senate meeting Friday, more than 900 faculty and staff members throughout the University of California system issued a list of demands. They included a call for Block’s resignation; amnesty for students, staff and faculty who participated in the encampment and peaceful protests; university disclosure of all investments and divestment from military weapon production companies.
        • Bias (65%)
          The article contains examples of ideological and monetary bias. The author mentions that critics have blamed UCLA Chancellor Gene Block for failing to bring in a stronger police presence and for not providing a security plan to campus leadership despite multiple requests. Additionally, the author notes that some sources say Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck should step aside due to previous lapses being scrutinized. The article also mentions that UCLA has moved swiftly to improve security by creating a new chief safety officer position, which some critics say will further
          • critics have blamed UCLA Chancellor Gene Block for failing to bring in a stronger police presence and for not providing a security plan to campus leadership despite multiple requests.
            • some sources say Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck should step aside due to previous lapses being scrutinized.
              • UCLA has moved swiftly to improve security by creating a new chief safety officer position, which some critics say will further
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication

              99%

              The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
              (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

              A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

              Despite warnings of violence at UCLA, police didn’t step in for over 3 hours

              The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Jon Swaine, Saturday, 11 May 2024 13:52
              • Unique Points
                • On April 30, Sean Tabibian made the first of 11 calls to 911 reporting urgent need for police at UCLA due to violent altercations between masked agitators and pro-Palestinian protesters.
                • Despite multiple calls from Tabibian and other witnesses, law enforcement agencies did not respond until 3 hours and 34 minutes after the initial call.
                • At least 16 people were injured during the altercation, with the majority being pro-Palestinian protesters.
              • Accuracy
                No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
              • Deception (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Fallacies (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Bias (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication

              98%

              The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
              (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

              A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

              NY Times editorial calls out chaos, failed leadership at colleges: Led to fear, harassment of Jewish students

              Fox News Media Gabriel Hays Sunday, 12 May 2024 14:43
              • Unique Points
                • New York Times editorial board criticized American university administrators for letting anti-Israel protests get out of hand, resulting in harassment and endangerment of Jewish students and protesters.
                • University leaders have failed to enforce student codes of conduct and other guidelines meant to relieve tension between free speech and academic freedom.
                • Lack of enforcement has led to some Jewish students feeling systematically harassed, while protesters themselves have been directly endangered due to disarray and violence.
              • Accuracy
                No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
              • Deception (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Fallacies (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Bias (95%)
                The author expresses a clear bias against the chaos and disruption caused by anti-Israel protests on college campuses. He uses language that depicts the protesters as endangering both Jewish students and themselves. The author also criticizes university leaders for failing to enforce student codes of conduct, which he believes would restore order on campus. Additionally, the author expresses concern over certain views being silenced on campus and scholars feeling intimidated.
                • But rules matter only when guardrails are consistently upheld. It's in that enforcement that the leadership of too many universities has fallen short.
                  • Some scholars report that this has had a chilling effect on their work, making them less willing to participate in the academy or in the wider world of public discourse.
                    • The New York Times editorial board criticized American university administrators on Saturday, accusing them of letting the anti-Israel protests get so out of hand that both Jewish students, faculty, and the protesters have been harassed and directly endangered.
                      • The price of pushing boundaries, particularly with more conservative ideas, has become higher and higher.
                      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication
                      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication

                      94%

                      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                      UCLA: Whose Violence? | Piper French

                      The New York Review of Books Piper French Saturday, 11 May 2024 00:00
                      • Unique Points
                        • On May 2, volunteer attorneys waited for protesters arrested at UCLA’s Palestine solidarity encampment to be released from custody.
                        • President Biden stated that ‘violent protest is not protected; peaceful protest is.’
                        • Demonstrations had escalated at colleges and universities across the country, including UT Austin, Emory, Columbia, and City College of New York.
                        • Violence had overwhelmingly been committed against demonstrators rather than by them.
                        • On April 30 at UCLA, pro-Israel counterprotesters attacked the encampment with fireworks, planks, bear mace, and pepper spray.
                        • More than two hundred people were detained during a police raid on the encampment following the attack.
                      • Accuracy
                        • President Biden stated that ‘violent protest is not protected; peaceful protest is.’ (article)
                        • Security officers did not intervene during the attack (otherArticle[1])
                        • None of the counterprotesters were arrested (otherArticle[1])
                      • Deception (100%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication
                      • Fallacies (95%)
                        The author makes an appeal to authority fallacy by quoting President Biden's statement without providing any context or evidence that the protests being referred to are indeed violent and disorderly. However, the author later in the article provides evidence that the violence had overwhelmingly been committed against the demonstrators rather than by them.
                        • “Violent protest is not protected; peaceful protest is,” President Biden
                        • “Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations—none of this is a peaceful protest…. Dissent must never lead to disorder.”
                      • Bias (100%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication
                      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication
                      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication